How to Choose a Good Multivitamin
There are a lot of choices out there and looks can be deceiving. Some vitamins contain large quantities of the cheaper nutrients and none or almost none of the costly ones. Unfortunately your body needs those costly nutrients just as much as the other ones.
Look for all-natural ingredients without added chemicals. Since heat destroys nutrients you should find supplements that are processed with low or no heat. Look for a manufacturer who does extensive research and …this is important…publishes its clinical studies. A company that has been in business for a number of years should have a proven track record of integrity.
There are several other good indicators of the quality of a multivitamin/ multimineral supplement. Does it contain all eight B vitamins? These are Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate (Folic Acid), Vitamin B12, Biotin, and Pantothenic Acid. Biotin and Folate are expensive nutrients. Many supplements shortchange the consumer on these. Your multi should contain 400 mcg of Folate, which is essential for prevention of birth defects.
Calcium is another good indicator. It is a bulky nutrient and difficult to include in a one or two tablet multi serving. Yours should have at least 450 mg which is 45% of suggested daily value. You may want to add a calcium supplement if you don’t consume enough dairy in your daily diet to reach the 1000 mg suggested value.
A vitamin that meets these criteria will cost more than drugstore vitamins but if you want better health it is the only choice to make.
Women’s Health Requirements for Life
Women are unique individuals each facing different health issues affected by diet, environment, heredity etc. However they generally fall into three age categories.
Although women in this age group generally have fewer health problems than their older sisters they usually experience higher levels of stress compared to older women. The challenges of balancing children, career, and personal life can be stressful. During this demanding time in a woman’s life it is essential to make sure that you receive the proper nutrients to meet the energy levels your busy schedule demands. Doing so will keep you healthier now and build a good foundation for a healthy future.
The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is certainly true in the area of skin care. Now is a good time to start taking care of your skin to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles down the road. A little sun is healthy, but too much can set the stage for skin cancers of all types.
Speaking of pounds, maintaining a healthy weight now will make staying healthy in your future years easier. Losing a few excess pounds is easier now than in midlife. Exercise and a diet full of nutritious foods is the best way to do this.
As women enter their 30’s they begin a slow process of ending their reproductive years. This is known as perimenopause. Actual menopause is reached when your body has not experience your monthly cycle for one year. Perimenopause can last up to ten years. Every woman’s body is different and the duration and intensity of perimenopausal symptoms varies. If you experience at least 3 of the following symptoms you are probably entering perimenopause: moodiness, irritability, menstrual changes, sleeping disturbances, bloating/water retention, hot flashes, mild to moderate depression. Studies have shown that consuming phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) in addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle can reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms.
This is also the time when laugh lines and crow’s feet begin to show up, along with the dreaded double chin. As your skin ages collagen and elastin begin to break down, causing it to lose its firm supple appearance. New skin cell production begins to slow down and this may lead to a dry, dull complexion. Your scalp also is aging and this may lead to dull, brittle, even thinning hair.
The major concerns for this group are heart health, keeping bones strong, and preserving healthy joints. It is vital to supply your body with the nutrients it needs to help prevent osteoporosis and heart disease.
Your skin will have matured as well. It now takes your skins cells twice as long to replace themselves as it did at age 20. Oil production decreases, leaving your skin significantly drier. Skin becomes thinner with age, making wrinkles, dropping, and irritation more likely. Years of sun exposure can make the skin tone uneven.
One way to be sure to get the nutrients you need is to take a good multi vitamin. This should be made of all natural ingredients, and cold-processed to retain enzyme activity. Make sure that your vitamin provider does clinical studies to prove delivery of the nutrients in their product, and is willing to publish the results.
